ROXANA, Del. — The District 3 Senior Division Little League softball team went from facing a team that traveled less than 50 miles to the World Series one day to playing against a squad that traveled more than 8,000 miles the next day.
After dispatching the Host Team Woodbridge, 5-2, in Sunday’s opening pool play game, District 3 took on Asian Pacific region champ, Guam on Monday night.

That’s right, Guam.

“It’s so different,” said District 3 outfielder Kodi Pollock, who is a student at Cumberland Regional High School, after Sunday’s win. “We have been playing teams from all over the U.S. and now we get to play a team like this. It’s going to be so much fun.”

The tiny island located in the western Pacific Ocean — beyond Hawaii — is about the size of New Jersey and is almost a day ahead of New Jersey’s time zone.

For the players on District 3, which consists of girls from Salem and Cumberland counties, going up against a group of girls from an island on the other side of the globe truly brings out the essence of “world” at the World Series.

“We became very close friends with them after hanging out with them at the hotel (on Saturday),” outfielder Lindsay Dwyer said. “After playing waffle ball with them and teaching them my dance moves, I told them they had just been Americanized. They said we are a U.S. territory. I didn’t know that. It was educational. I also Googled-mapped it so I also know where it is now, too.”

Guam isn’t the only international flavor at the Lower Sussex Little League complex, site of the World Series. Canada is also in District 3’s pool — the two teams play today at noon — while teams are also from Italy and Puerto Rico.

In 2008, District 3 had a team qualify for the World Series and it lost to Puerto Rico in the championship game.

“I am kind of excited to see what else is out there,” District 3 pitcher Brooke Coleman
said. “I know they are talented and I am really interested to see how all of these different teams from the different countries play.”

On the two fields where the games are played, the flags of each country whip in the wind in the outfield. There are also non-softball events scheduled during the week that involves every team.

“It’s just an awesome experience,” District 3 head coach Dan Pollock said. “The girls were having a lot of fun with the Guam players at the hotel. And that is what this is all about. We want to win but the girls are taking it all in.”

The idea behind the World Series — aside from pure competition — is to bring the teams and players together. Although they are competing for the title of the best Little League squad on the planet, the event fosters a positive and friendly environment — one that the girls on District 3 have sincerely embraced.

“There’s nothing like it. This is what you wait for since you are a little kid,” Dwyer said. “I had good friends Kylie Kristovich and Arielle Bruno who made it here (in 2008). They told me about the experience. My high team also goes to Puerto Rico each year (in the preseason) so we get a cultural feel there.

“To come here and see everyone supporting everyone, I love it. You don’t see any competition until the first inning starts. Everyone is seriously friendly. I can’t get enough of it right now. It’s an absolutely amazing experience and I am so lucky to be a part of it.”